ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) concluded in Abu Dhabi with the suggestion that community-based strategies be devised to eradicate the poliovirus.

The head of Pakistan’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Rana Safdar, said that as many as three strategies were being practised, and that areas would be prioritised as per the campaign’s requirements. “The IMB meeting gives us confidence that the programme is on track to finish the job but there is absolutely no place for any complacency. We still have a long way to go and need to maintain the current momentum at all levels and further improve our performance in areas such as Peshawar, Karachi, Quetta and central Pakistan,” he said.

Most members of Pakistani delegation, who attended the meeting chaired by IMB Chairman Sir Liam Donaldson, returned home on Thursday evening.

An official from the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), who was not authorised to speak on record, said that Pakistan is a vast country with people having different cultures, traditions, languages and lifestyles.

“It is necessary to adopt area- and block-specific strategies to eradicate the poliovirus from the country. Moreover, political parties, tribal heads and local people should also be taken on board to vaccinate every child,” he said.

“A separate strategy should be made for the people of Karachi as compared to interior Sindh. Moreover, MQM, PPP and ANP should be taken on board to eradicate the poliovirus from Karachi,” he said. “People in Balochistan’s area i.e. Pishin, Chaman, Qilla Abdullah and Quetta have different a lifestyle, traditions and even political following. Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and tribal heads should be taken on board in those areas,” he said.

“In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI has already been taken on board and tribal heads’ involvement in vaccination should be increased,” he said.

“Moreover, separate strategies should be made for communication, security and monitoring of campaigns,” he said.

Another member of the delegation told Dawn, “The board was informed that there was a meeting at the national EOC at 9:30am everyday to review the performance of last day. IMB suggested that similar practice should be adopted in provincial EOCs,” he said.

“The board was further informed that new strategy will be adopted for Peshawar and every missed child would be covered as separate data support centres have been made to analyse the situation of missed children,” he said.

However an official statement issued by the Ministry of NHS on Thursday, says that Pakistan has gained access to all inaccessible areas of Fata and other parts of the country.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play